Welcome to the colorful world of Thai politics! Please keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times as we begin this journey through the maze of colored-shirt specific politics. We've got names, colors, posters, and numbers for you to associate.
On another side, we have the now blue shirts, the Democrats led by Abhisit Vejjajjiva, Number 10:
On yet another side, we have the yellow shirts, the PAD, supporters of who knows but maybe Khun Abhisit now that he's withdrawn Thailand's commitment to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (really? who knew that the preservation of cultural and national heritage?) or supporters of not voting ("animals into Parliament") in the upcoming elections, partly Number 18:
Some other interesting characters play into the mix, although their color loyalty is not as clear: we have the (in)famous Chuwit Kamolvisit, the former "massage parlor" mogul turned politician whose main message appears to be, "I have lots of experience in being corrupt, so I'll be perfect for the government... at preventing corruption...", Number 5:
There's the Bhum Jai Thai party, the latest incarnation of a series of parties that apparently have been disbanded (despite my growing knowledge of Thai politics, I still don't understand all of the parties and their histories. The stability of the U.S. Democrats and Republicans is astounding - but maybe not when you consider the instability of the U.S. parties in the first few years as a democracy.), Number 16.
There's also the exercise party... I'm not sure what they're actually running for but many of their posters include people exercising or playing sports. There's also one with a guy and a panda, Number 2:
Here are a few more bloggers who've talked about the awesome Thai campaign season:
And finally the coup de grace of the Thai electoral process: alcohol and online campaigning are banned from 6am Saturday (the day before the election) until midnight election day. I wonder what all those Twitterati will do until the ban lifts?
(PS I'm planning on taking many more election poster pictures and I'll try to post them before the ban comes into effect. Not that I think the Royal Thai Government is following my blog, but you never know exactly who might be reading it? [see Sierra Leone blog and the DHL representative who commented on another blog I worked on... I think I might be on a DHL blacklist now...])
On one side, we have the red shirts, the UDD, supporters of Pua Thai (For Thai) and their top-ranked official, Yingluck Shinnawatra, youngest sister of ousted, criminally-charged, former prime minister, Thaksin Shinnawatra, Number 1:
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| Khun Yingluck |
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| "Accelerate economic recovery Select Pua Thai Government" |
On another side, we have the now blue shirts, the Democrats led by Abhisit Vejjajjiva, Number 10:
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| Happy Abhisit |
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| Concerned Abhisit |
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| Don't vote in the people who did this... |
On yet another side, we have the yellow shirts, the PAD, supporters of who knows but maybe Khun Abhisit now that he's withdrawn Thailand's commitment to the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (really? who knew that the preservation of cultural and national heritage?) or supporters of not voting ("animals into Parliament") in the upcoming elections, partly Number 18:
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| "Don't vote animals into Parliament" |
Some other interesting characters play into the mix, although their color loyalty is not as clear: we have the (in)famous Chuwit Kamolvisit, the former "massage parlor" mogul turned politician whose main message appears to be, "I have lots of experience in being corrupt, so I'll be perfect for the government... at preventing corruption...", Number 5:
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| Angry, slightly crazy Chuwit... |
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| Fun Chuvit? |
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| Adds a new layer to the whole politician kissing a baby... |
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| One of the few posters in English |
There's the Bhum Jai Thai party, the latest incarnation of a series of parties that apparently have been disbanded (despite my growing knowledge of Thai politics, I still don't understand all of the parties and their histories. The stability of the U.S. Democrats and Republicans is astounding - but maybe not when you consider the instability of the U.S. parties in the first few years as a democracy.), Number 16.
There's also the exercise party... I'm not sure what they're actually running for but many of their posters include people exercising or playing sports. There's also one with a guy and a panda, Number 2:
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| I don't know... a panda? |
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| Pop quiz? Number 2? Number 5? Number 10? |
Here are a few more bloggers who've talked about the awesome Thai campaign season:
And finally the coup de grace of the Thai electoral process: alcohol and online campaigning are banned from 6am Saturday (the day before the election) until midnight election day. I wonder what all those Twitterati will do until the ban lifts?
(PS I'm planning on taking many more election poster pictures and I'll try to post them before the ban comes into effect. Not that I think the Royal Thai Government is following my blog, but you never know exactly who might be reading it? [see Sierra Leone blog and the DHL representative who commented on another blog I worked on... I think I might be on a DHL blacklist now...])
